Stephen Colbert addressed his previous comments joking about Kate Middleton’s “disappearance from public life” but did not issue a direct apology. While acknowledging that his jokes upset some people, he emphasized that he does not make light of someone else’s tragedy. Colbert expressed his well-wishes for Middleton’s recovery after she revealed her cancer diagnosis in a video last week. He highlighted the harrowing nature of any cancer diagnosis and extended heartfelt hope for a swift and thorough recovery.
On a March 13 episode of “The Late Show,” Colbert referenced conspiracies that speculated about the reason behind Kate Middleton’s absence, including rumors of Prince William having an affair. In reality, Kensington Palace had announced in January and February that Middleton would be away from public duties until after Easter as she recovered from abdominal surgery. Middleton shared in her video that the news of her cancer diagnosis came as a shock to William and their children, and she began preventative chemotherapy towards the end of February. She underscored the importance of taking time to explain the situation to their children in an age-appropriate way.
A spokesperson for Kensington Palace revealed that Middleton started preventative chemotherapy in late February but did not disclose the type or severity of her cancer, stressing her right to medical privacy. The spokesperson emphasized that further private medical information would not be shared, as everyone has the right to medical privacy. Middleton’s diagnosis had been kept private until she decided to reveal it in her video, after months of speculation and false conspiracy theories surrounding her absence from public life. The news prompted Colbert to address and reflect on his previous comments that sparked controversy.
Colbert’s comments had been made in the context of discussing the widespread speculation surrounding Kate Middleton’s absence and the conspiracy theories that emerged as a result. He noted that his jokes had upset some people even before her diagnosis was revealed and acknowledged that some of his jokes have caused offense in the past and may do so in the future. However, he reiterated his commitment to not making light of someone else’s tragedy, emphasizing the seriousness of a cancer diagnosis and extending well-wishes for Middleton’s recovery. The situation underscores the delicate balance in comedy between addressing current events and sensitive topics with empathy and respect.
